WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.320
 Father, we ask that the Holy Spirit would move with might and power and deep conviction into our lives.

00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:15.200
 Father, your Son took on flesh, becoming fully human while remaining fully God.

00:00:15.860 --> 00:00:22.460
 He lived amongst us, and he died on the cross, and he died as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:29.900
 And then he rose, Father, from the dead, triumphing over sin and over death and over hell itself.

00:00:30.739 --> 00:00:34.299
 And Father, we know that he did this not just to save us, but to reveal you.

00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:41.859
 So Father, help us not to treat with contempt that which your Son did at a great cost to himself.

00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:53.939
 So Father, we ask that you help us to know you, to love you, to know about you, to trust you, to know, Father, that there is but one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God but three persons,

00:00:54.480 --> 00:00:58.780
 that you desire us to know this for our great good and for our salvation.

00:00:58.780 --> 00:01:07.719
 So Father, do a wonderful work in our lives this morning, and we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

00:01:08.320 --> 00:01:09.140
 Please be seated.

00:01:09.140 --> 00:01:10.140
 Thank you.

00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:24.599
 So, eventually, when I talk to people, they find out I'm a Christian, and we end up getting into maybe, you know, often when they find out I'm a Christian, nothing happens at all.

00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:27.799
 They just, oh yeah, you're a Christian.

00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:33.599
 It's the same thing as, I don't know, you like the Ottawa Senators, and it just, excuse me, the conversation just moves on.

00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:40.719
 But sometimes, at some point in other words, they'll get into a bit of a conversation with me about some of the problems they have with the Christian idea of God.

00:01:41.199 --> 00:01:47.500
 And the most common problem they have with the Christian idea of God or the Christian teaching of God is, of course, the problem of evil.

00:01:47.979 --> 00:01:52.500
 How is it that there could be a God who's all-powerful and all-loving and there still be evil?

00:01:53.239 --> 00:02:00.019
 The other thing which they often will bring up is the whole doctrine of the Trinity, that the Trinity is, well, there's a variety of problems.

00:02:00.019 --> 00:02:02.560
 I'm not going to look at the problem of evil today.

00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:08.719
 I probably will talk about it when we either talk later on about God being all-powerful or God being love,

00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:13.819
 because those are some of the sermons that we'll be doing over the next few weeks.

00:02:14.579 --> 00:02:19.939
 But we will talk this morning about the idea that God is three persons but one God.

00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:25.740
 And people will tell me, George, this is a complicated idea.

00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:28.139
 It's illogical.

00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.219
 It's needless.

00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:31.800
 It's confusing.

00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:36.060
 One plus one plus one never adds up to one.

00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:38.979
 It just doesn't make any sense.

00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:41.419
 Why don't you make the idea a little bit simpler?

00:02:41.419 --> 00:02:50.799
 It just sounds, George, as if it's either the type of thing that maybe, you know, Constantine and the church hierarchy were doing some type of a power play,

00:02:50.939 --> 00:02:53.399
 so they came up with this idea for political reasons.

00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:00.479
 You know, either that or it's, you know, all these crazed, sex-starved monks coming up with crazy types of ideas.

00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:02.599
 And now you guys just continue to believe it.

00:03:02.619 --> 00:03:03.379
 It makes no sense.

00:03:03.419 --> 00:03:04.399
 You should make it simpler.

00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:13.379
 And there's a variety of other things like this, so that it might be that it's, in fact, an offense to God to say that any mere human being,

00:03:13.819 --> 00:03:17.900
 this would be what many of our Muslim friends, for instance, or Jewish friends would say to us,

00:03:17.920 --> 00:03:25.860
 that it's a profound offense and blasphemous, in fact, to actually even think that any human being could be God or would even claim to be God.

00:03:27.140 --> 00:03:30.120
 So why is it that Christians believe this?

00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:35.539
 Well, just very, very simply, it has nothing to do with Constantine.

00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:38.400
 It has nothing to do with politics in the Roman Empire.

00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:41.259
 It has nothing to do with the power of the church.

00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:50.780
 It has nothing to do with sex-crazed monks, nor does it have anything to do with just people wanting to be more complicated philosophers.

00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:54.379
 The entire reason we believe in the Trinity is because of Jesus.

00:03:54.379 --> 00:04:00.400
 Very, very simply, very, very plainly, it all comes back to Jesus.

00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:09.699
 And, in fact, actually, once you understand that it's because of Jesus that we had to put the Christians trying to understand,

00:04:10.019 --> 00:04:13.859
 just being really attentive to who he is and what he said and what he did,

00:04:13.859 --> 00:04:18.560
 that we come up with these other creeds and stuff that try to put some extra language around it.

00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:25.139
 It's all just really everything in the doctrine of the Trinity, in a sense, is tethered to Jesus,

00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:31.819
 is anchored by Jesus, and grows out of what Jesus taught.

00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:35.560
 So what I'd like to do, I'm going to do two sort of types of things this morning.

00:04:36.300 --> 00:04:38.259
 Hopefully, I have enough time to do both of them.

00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:45.319
 First of all, I want to sort of just give you three simple little things about Jesus that, in effect, if you get that,

00:04:45.379 --> 00:04:49.000
 there'd only be one other one that if we did another sermon on the Incarnation, you'd add a fourth one,

00:04:49.039 --> 00:04:50.759
 which I'll tell you after I've done the third one.

00:04:51.300 --> 00:04:56.980
 But basically, everything about the thinking of the Trinity comes out of these three simple things that Jesus taught and did.

00:04:57.300 --> 00:05:00.759
 And then the second part is we'll just reflect a little bit about why, actually,

00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:06.659
 rather than being illogical, irrational, and overly complicated,

00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:12.199
 it's actually profoundly good news for every one of us and worthy of meditation.

00:05:12.779 --> 00:05:13.920
 So what's the first thing?

00:05:13.980 --> 00:05:18.459
 The first one thing actually isn't very complicated or controversial.

00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:21.879
 Jesus taught that there is only one God.

00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:24.779
 Jesus taught that there is only one God.

00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.939
 Now, we're going to look, if you turn in your Bibles,

00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:30.139
 we're going to be looking at a lot of Bible verses this morning.

00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:33.719
 And actually, one of the things that we're going to do is this.

00:05:33.899 --> 00:05:38.099
 All of the texts, with sort of one exception at the end,

00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:41.240
 and then another little exception that you'll see in a moment,

00:05:42.099 --> 00:05:46.339
 I'm going to take all of my examples just from the Gospel of Mark.

00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:49.199
 In a sense, what I'm going to do is,

00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:51.939
 not that I'm trying to fight anybody,

00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.779
 but I'm going to tie, in a sense, as Christians,

00:05:56.779 --> 00:06:00.439
 we're going to tie both of our hands behind our back to defend this doctrine.

00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:01.779
 And why?

00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.279
 Because many of our friends,

00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:07.839
 there are many of our friends who completely and utterly would discount the Gospel of John.

00:06:08.459 --> 00:06:11.360
 They would say that the Gospel of John was written way too late,

00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:15.500
 and so it's obviously just an invention by people who no longer knew Jesus.

00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:20.939
 Now, I actually subscribe to a bit of a minority position among scholars.

00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:25.519
 I think there's really very good reasons to believe that every single thing in the New Testament

00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:28.279
 was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70,

00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:34.620
 and so that everything in the New Testament was not far too late for there to be still many eyewitnesses around.

00:06:35.259 --> 00:06:36.959
 But we're going to take that.

00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:38.740
 We won't talk about John.

00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:45.000
 And then there's many other people who say that, in fact, there was Jesus' teaching,

00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:47.939
 and then it very quickly got confused and perverted.

00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:53.480
 And the person who perverted the teaching of Jesus was this man by the name of Paul.

00:06:54.400 --> 00:06:57.560
 And so that if you could go back in time before Paul,

00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:02.519
 you'd see that Jesus didn't teach these types of things because Paul confused everything.

00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:07.099
 And by the same type of token, they'd say you can't look at Jude, you can't look at James,

00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:11.019
 you can't look at Hebrews, you can't look at either of the epistles by Peter.

00:07:11.659 --> 00:07:15.399
 And so what that leaves is that they'll sort of credit, often some of our credits,

00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:19.799
 Mark, Matthew, and Luke, but especially Mark, because just about everybody,

00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:24.639
 actually up until about 200 years ago, most people thought Matthew was the first Gospel that was written.

00:07:25.099 --> 00:07:29.620
 But for the last 200 years, even the most skeptical scholars probably think that the Gospel of Mark

00:07:29.620 --> 00:07:34.680
 was the very, very first biography of Jesus that was written, the very, very earliest.

00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:36.180
 And it's the briefest.

00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:38.620
 So what we're going to do is we're just going to look at Mark.

00:07:38.939 --> 00:07:41.459
 We're going to tie not only both of our hands behind our back,

00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.720
 we're going to tie up one foot so that we have to hop around and try to defend it.

00:07:45.819 --> 00:07:48.199
 If you're right-footed, on your left foot.

00:07:48.259 --> 00:07:49.840
 If you're left-footed, on your right foot.

00:07:50.139 --> 00:07:50.860
 And that's what we're going to do.

00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.540
 We're just going to look at Mark just to see, in fact,

00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:59.519
 if these three key ideas that the Trinity grows out of can be found in the Gospel of Mark.

00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:05.920
 The first, the earliest eyewitness testimony to what Jesus said and what he taught.

00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:09.939
 So the first idea is that Jesus taught that there's only one God.

00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:19.019
 Well, if you look at Mark chapter 12, verses 28 to 34, we'll see Jesus teach this very clearly.

00:08:19.139 --> 00:08:23.199
 We'll just look at one verse because it's not a controversial text, but I want you to see it.

00:08:23.819 --> 00:08:24.819
 And it goes like this.

00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:28.120
 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another.

00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:31.800
 That's Jesus and the scribes and the Pharisees.

00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.759
 And seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked Jesus,

00:08:36.059 --> 00:08:38.179
 which commandment is the most important of all?

00:08:38.939 --> 00:08:40.620
 Which is the most important commandment?

00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:42.639
 And then Jesus answered.

00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:45.559
 And what he's about to answer, our Jewish friends will tell us,

00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.919
 that he answers with the Shema.

00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:48.480
 I don't know if I pronounced it correctly.

00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:49.819
 That's close enough.

00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:50.660
 The Shema.

00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:55.040
 And it is the central piece of Jewish thought about God.

00:08:55.140 --> 00:08:59.320
 It is the central, it is like their creed that there's only one God.

00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:02.140
 And Jesus said it's the most important commandment.

00:09:02.300 --> 00:09:03.060
 Listen to what he says.

00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:04.620
 The most important is,

00:09:04.820 --> 00:09:07.300
 Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:11.320
 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:13.320
 and with all your mind and with all your strength.

00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.940
 And then Jesus adds a second one,

00:09:16.380 --> 00:09:17.620
 saying the second is this,

00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.039
 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:21.639
 There is no other commandment greater than these.

00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.179
 And the scribe said to him,

00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:23.960
 You're right, teacher.

00:09:24.060 --> 00:09:28.019
 You have truly said that he is one and that there is no other beside him.

00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:30.919
 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding,

00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:32.220
 with all the strength,

00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:33.840
 and to love one's neighbor as oneself

00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:37.179
 is much more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.

00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:43.720
 So Jesus very clearly accepted the Jewish creed that there is only one God.

00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:49.660
 Now, the second thing is that Jesus taught and modeled that,

00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:51.840
 but just by the way here,

00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:55.360
 you're going to now notice some differences between how I summarize my point

00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:56.700
 and what's on the screen.

00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:59.600
 And the reason is,

00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:02.720
 is that one of the ways I do my sermons when there's an 8 and 10 o'clock

00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:06.680
 is I create an email that gives the points to people.

00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.879
 And then to help refresh myself,

00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:12.040
 I write the points down by hand in my book.

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:14.139
 It's a way to help me remember the flow of the talk.

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.779
 I forgot my phone at home,

00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:17.339
 so I have no email.

00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:20.019
 So I'm using an earlier version of my points,

00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:23.019
 but my words will be very similar to the words which are up there.

00:10:23.059 --> 00:10:23.959
 But here's the second one.

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:29.339
 That Jesus taught that he is different from the Father.

00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:30.360
 Or another way to put it,

00:10:30.439 --> 00:10:32.799
 is that the Father and Jesus are not the same.

00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:33.959
 That's what Jesus taught,

00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.459
 and he modeled it many, many, many times.

00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:39.079
 I'm just going to give you two particular examples.

00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:43.900
 So if you look at Mark chapter 14, verses 32 to 36,

00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:49.460
 this is a very poignant scene.

00:10:50.180 --> 00:10:51.960
 Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane,

00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:56.100
 and he knows that he's going to be captured very soon by soldiers,

00:10:56.540 --> 00:11:01.480
 and he knows that he's going to be convicted falsely,

00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:03.540
 and he knows he's going to die on the cross,

00:11:03.580 --> 00:11:04.920
 and he knows all of these things.

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:08.799
 And so, you know, here this is actually a really important type of testimony

00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:13.299
 because it captures Jesus at his most vulnerable and his most fragile,

00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.679
 and see how he talks.

00:11:15.179 --> 00:11:17.379
 And they went to a place called Gethsemane,

00:11:17.740 --> 00:11:19.299
 and Jesus said to his disciples,

00:11:19.439 --> 00:11:20.419
 Sit here while I pray.

00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:23.479
 And he took with him Peter and James and John

00:11:23.479 --> 00:11:25.639
 and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.

00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:27.019
 And he said to them,

00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:30.059
 My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.

00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:31.179
 Remain here and watch.

00:11:31.179 --> 00:11:33.319
 And going a little farther,

00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.039
 he fell on the ground and prayed

00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:36.259
 that if it were possible,

00:11:36.839 --> 00:11:38.479
 the hour might pass from him.

00:11:39.179 --> 00:11:40.079
 Here, listen to this.

00:11:40.219 --> 00:11:40.699
 And he said,

00:11:40.899 --> 00:11:42.039
 Abba, Father,

00:11:42.579 --> 00:11:44.539
 all things are possible for you.

00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:47.620
 Remove this cup from me,

00:11:48.079 --> 00:11:49.719
 yet not what I will,

00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.019
 but what you will.

00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:54.719
 Very clearly, he's talking to his father, Abba.

00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:56.379
 And it's a very different...

00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:58.399
 He's obviously talking to a different person.

00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.519
 He's not saying he's the same as the father.

00:12:01.179 --> 00:12:03.179
 This becomes also very clear

00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.819
 if you just sort of turn your page

00:12:04.819 --> 00:12:05.899
 in most of your Bibles

00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:09.319
 and look at Mark chapter 15,

00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:12.959
 verses 33 to 34.

00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:15.539
 And now we see Jesus hanging on the cross,

00:12:15.579 --> 00:12:16.279
 and he's dying.

00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.500
 And here's what he says.

00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:20.659
 And when the sixth hour had come,

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.319
 there was darkness over the whole land

00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:23.399
 until the ninth hour.

00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.059
 And at the ninth hour,

00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:27.299
 Jesus cried with a loud voice,

00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.159
 Eloi, Eloi,

00:12:29.159 --> 00:12:30.699
 Lema sabachthani,

00:12:30.839 --> 00:12:31.539
 which means,

00:12:32.159 --> 00:12:32.899
 My God,

00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:33.980
 my God,

00:12:34.339 --> 00:12:37.079
 why have you forsaken me?

00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:39.259
 Very clearly,

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.519
 he's talking to God.

00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:41.919
 He's not talking to himself.

00:12:42.259 --> 00:12:43.500
 He's saying that God

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:45.019
 has forsaken him.

00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:46.879
 He's making a very clear distinction

00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:48.059
 between him and God.

00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:50.339
 So here's how we've seen so far.

00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:51.899
 Jesus teaches very clearly

00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.779
 that there is only one God.

00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:55.519
 And he teaches very clearly

00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.000
 that he is not the Father,

00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:58.759
 that the Father and him

00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.819
 are different.

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.519
 But here now,

00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:03.759
 there's a third pillar,

00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:05.819
 the third anchor point,

00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:06.620
 so to speak,

00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:07.819
 of the doctrine,

00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:08.899
 out of which,

00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.079
 which tethers the doctrine,

00:13:11.199 --> 00:13:11.960
 of which the doctrine

00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:13.120
 of the Trinity grows out of,

00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:14.840
 is that Jesus taught

00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.759
 that he is God,

00:13:17.179 --> 00:13:18.179
 the Son of God.

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:20.220
 That Jesus taught

00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:21.460
 that he is God,

00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:22.899
 the Son of God.

00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:24.899
 Now,

00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:26.720
 at this point in time,

00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:28.299
 often when I say this to people,

00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:28.720
 they go,

00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:29.799
 whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.559
 whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:31.199
 time out.

00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:32.799
 And many people

00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:33.459
 who might not know

00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:34.600
 very much about the Bible

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.840
 know this one thing,

00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:37.639
 especially when it comes to this.

00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:38.059
 They'll say,

00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.299
 but didn't Jesus say

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.720
 that the Father

00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.679
 is greater than him?

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.419
 Therefore,

00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.720
 he can't be God.

00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.840
 Didn't Jesus say that?

00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:46.579
 Now,

00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:47.559
 it's very interesting

00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:48.240
 because often

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.519
 the very same people

00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:50.139
 who will tell me

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.759
 you can't trust

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:51.759
 the Gospel of John

00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.720
 or et cetera, et cetera,

00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:54.040
 what they actually do

00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:55.420
 is they quote John to me.

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:58.279
 So if they quote John to you,

00:13:58.379 --> 00:13:59.100
 something like that,

00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.420
 you'll say,

00:13:59.500 --> 00:13:59.920
 well, okay,

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:00.399
 whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:01.720
 that's a good point.

00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:02.960
 Let's look at it.

00:14:03.420 --> 00:14:04.139
 But actually,

00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:05.340
 what they've actually

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.720
 just allowed you

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.620
 to tell them

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:09.920
 is dynamite

00:14:09.920 --> 00:14:11.440
 that blows up

00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:12.100
 their position.

00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:14.360
 If you turn

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.379
 in your Bibles

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:17.060
 to John chapter 14,

00:14:17.779 --> 00:14:19.300
 John chapter 14,

00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.620
 verses 28 to 33,

00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:22.759
 we'll see

00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:23.980
 where Jesus says this.

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.139
 And actually,

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:25.940
 if you go back,

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.139
 I mean,

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.940
 John's Gospel

00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:27.740
 is just filled

00:14:27.740 --> 00:14:28.360
 with teaching

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.659
 about Jesus being God.

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.720
 And John chapter 14

00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:33.419
 and 15 and 16 and 17,

00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:34.679
 this is Jesus speaking

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.399
 in the upper room

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:36.200
 to his disciples.

00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:37.560
 Once again,

00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:38.399
 he knows that he's

00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.120
 going to be captured

00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:39.700
 that evening.

00:14:39.820 --> 00:14:40.440
 He knows he's going

00:14:40.440 --> 00:14:41.259
 to die on the cross

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.000
 the next day.

00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:43.259
 And so it's a very

00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.779
 intimate final words

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:46.100
 that Jesus has

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:46.980
 with his disciples.

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.320
 But listen to

00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.100
 what it says here.

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:51.360
 You heard me say

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.259
 to you,

00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.240
 I am going away

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.740
 and I will come to you.

00:14:56.139 --> 00:14:57.259
 If you loved me,

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.080
 you would have rejoiced

00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:00.340
 because I am going

00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.040
 to the Father

00:15:01.040 --> 00:15:02.220
 for the Father

00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.480
 is greater than I.

00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:05.259
 And now I have told you

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.340
 before it takes place

00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.000
 so that it was

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:07.639
 take place,

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.720
 you may believe.

00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:10.420
 I will no longer

00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:11.580
 talk much with you

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.500
 for the ruler

00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.220
 of this world

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.759
 is coming.

00:15:14.420 --> 00:15:16.240
 He has no claim

00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:16.740
 on me,

00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.620
 but I do

00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.200
 as the Father

00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:19.240
 has commanded me

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.480
 so that the world

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:20.879
 may know

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.860
 that I love the Father.

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:22.720
 Rise,

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.100
 let us go from here.

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.240
 Now,

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.440
 here's the dynamite

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.039
 in the text.

00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:27.379
 In fact,

00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:28.340
 you might want to talk,

00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:29.580
 put it up on the screen,

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.360
 is that Jesus

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.340
 is teaching here

00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:32.259
 that he and the Father

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.639
 have the same nature.

00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:34.759
 Now,

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:35.539
 this is not often

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.259
 seen by us,

00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:36.720
 but I,

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.220
 many of you know,

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:38.799
 if you don't know,

00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:39.919
 I'm about to tell you,

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.980
 I have nine children.

00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:44.740
 I can only father

00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:45.759
 human beings.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.600
 I didn't father

00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:49.300
 nine children,

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.820
 three puppy dogs,

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:51.740
 two cats,

00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:53.659
 and five guppies.

00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:56.340
 A member of our congregation,

00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:57.460
 a couple in our congregation,

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.500
 Laurie and Andrea,

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.279
 just this week

00:15:59.279 --> 00:15:59.820
 gave birth

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.440
 to a healthy baby girl.

00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.019
 Woo-hoo!

00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.720
 And we all knew

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.639
 that whatever was going

00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.539
 to come out of

00:16:05.539 --> 00:16:07.300
 Andrea's womb

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:08.740
 was going to be human

00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.680
 because humans

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:11.899
 beget humans.

00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.220
 Cats,

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:13.680
 cats,

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.120
 dogs,

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:14.620
 dogs,

00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:15.060
 guppies,

00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:15.480
 guppies.

00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:17.399
 That's just the way it is.

00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:18.920
 Whatever I beget

00:16:18.920 --> 00:16:19.460
 is going to be

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.580
 of the same nature of me.

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.259
 So actually,

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.340
 all of those times

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:23.080
 in the New Testament

00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:24.019
 where God calls,

00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.580
 like those earlier things,

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.100
 Abba,

00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:26.600
 Father,

00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.460
 where he's talking

00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:28.120
 to his father,

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:29.300
 he's making a claim

00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:30.220
 that God and him

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:32.100
 have the same nature.

00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.139
 Now,

00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.240
 usually those objecting

00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.600
 to this,

00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:36.500
 at this point in time,

00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:37.440
 they don't quite know

00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:37.940
 what to say

00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:38.800
 because they thought

00:16:38.800 --> 00:16:39.519
 they had the

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.100
 mic drop moment.

00:16:42.019 --> 00:16:43.500
 They made their point,

00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.320
 they drop it,

00:16:44.680 --> 00:16:45.560
 and we move on.

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.040
 But this is the first

00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:47.860
 of several pieces

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.379
 of evidence

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:48.879
 that Jesus,

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:49.420
 in fact,

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.460
 this is from John,

00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:51.500
 but other people

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.620
 usually bring this up.

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.720
 I don't have to bring

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.360
 it up myself.

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.399
 But let's go back

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:55.879
 to Mark.

00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:57.700
 So the first part

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.480
 of three is

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.220
 that Jesus taught

00:16:59.220 --> 00:16:59.940
 that he and the Father

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.960
 have the same nature.

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.620
 The next one is

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:03.740
 that Jesus acted

00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.380
 as only God can act

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.880
 with demons and sickness.

00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:08.700
 go back to the Gospel

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.240
 of Mark

00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:11.140
 and we'll see

00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:13.380
 just an example

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.020
 of each of them

00:17:14.020 --> 00:17:14.460
 that are very,

00:17:14.560 --> 00:17:15.100
 very simple.

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.500
 Mark 1,

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:18.480
 verses 25 to 26.

00:17:20.540 --> 00:17:21.640
 There's a person

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.220
 with a demon,

00:17:22.780 --> 00:17:23.940
 but Jesus rebuked him

00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.200
 saying,

00:17:24.340 --> 00:17:24.920
 be silent

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:26.020
 and come out of him.

00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:28.420
 And the unclean spirit,

00:17:28.560 --> 00:17:28.960
 the demon,

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.260
 convulsing the man

00:17:30.260 --> 00:17:31.080
 and crying out

00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.880
 with a loud voice,

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:32.760
 came out of him.

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.539
 And if you just sort of

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.440
 look down to Mark

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.099
 chapter 1,

00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.740
 verses 41 to 42,

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.119
 we'll see here

00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:40.019
 Jesus dealing with

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.960
 somebody who is sick,

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.819
 who has leprosy.

00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.539
 Moved with pity,

00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:44.940
 Jesus stretched out

00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:45.940
 his hand and touched

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:46.839
 him and said to him,

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.839
 I will be clean.

00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:49.700
 He's been asked

00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:50.200
 to heal him.

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.279
 I will be clean.

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.980
 And immediately

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.000
 the leprosy left him

00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:55.279
 and he was made clean.

00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.700
 Now once again,

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.059
 this doesn't seem

00:17:58.059 --> 00:17:58.579
 like much,

00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.160
 but it's something

00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.299
 that only God can do.

00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.519
 You and I

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.779
 have all prayed

00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:03.500
 that somebody

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.200
 would be healed.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.799
 And what we in a sense

00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:06.700
 are expecting

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:07.579
 is that I say,

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.740
 Father or Jesus,

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.019
 please heal this person.

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.339
 And what we're hoping

00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:12.220
 is that in a sense

00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:12.879
 the Father,

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.119
 Jesus hears it

00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.480
 and Jesus doesn't,

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.599
 the Father doesn't say,

00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.039
 okay, well I'm going

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.960
 to get the right medicine

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.759
 or I'm going to ask

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.639
 somebody else to do it.

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.819
 No, what does the Father do?

00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.139
 He says,

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.639
 demon be gone.

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:23.960
 He says,

00:18:24.539 --> 00:18:25.059
 be healed.

00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:26.980
 So you see here,

00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.900
 Jesus doesn't pray.

00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.400
 He acts exactly like God,

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.160
 but he doesn't sort of

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.299
 play act like God.

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.339
 He acts like God

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:36.099
 and what only God

00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:37.000
 can do happens.

00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:40.099
 The demon is gone.

00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:42.379
 The leprosy is gone

00:18:42.379 --> 00:18:44.559
 by a simple act

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.980
 of Jesus' will.

00:18:47.639 --> 00:18:49.220
 Then we also see

00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:51.259
 that Jesus forgives sin,

00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:52.579
 but only God

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:53.740
 can forgive sin.

00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.440
 It's a bit of a longer text,

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.960
 but if you look at Mark 2,

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:58.079
 verses 1 to 12,

00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:58.879
 we see this.

00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.639
 Jesus forgives sin,

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.400
 but only God

00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:02.440
 can forgive sin.

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:04.320
 Here's how the text goes.

00:19:05.040 --> 00:19:05.300
 Actually,

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:06.340
 if we skip down

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:08.140
 clear to verse 5.

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.780
 So basically,

00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.220
 there's a,

00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:09.740
 you know,

00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:10.940
 they're all in a room

00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:13.380
 hearing Jesus teach.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.060
 They want to bring,

00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:14.980
 their friends want to bring

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.120
 this man to be healed.

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.980
 They can't get through,

00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:18.880
 so they make a hole

00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.300
 in the roof.

00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.480
 They drop the man through.

00:19:20.980 --> 00:19:21.900
 And here we take it up,

00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:23.040
 the story at verse 5.

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:25.039
 And when Jesus saw their faith,

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.159
 he said to the paralytic,

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:26.859
 Son,

00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:27.920
 your sins are forgiven.

00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:29.980
 Son,

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:31.099
 your sins are forgiven.

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.139
 Jesus has never met

00:19:33.139 --> 00:19:34.000
 this man before.

00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.920
 This young man

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.579
 has done nothing

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:37.420
 against Jesus.

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:40.000
 Only one person

00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:40.720
 can only,

00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:42.399
 I can't come up and say,

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:43.000
 I forgive you

00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:43.960
 of all your sins.

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.440
 You'd go,

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:44.659
 what?

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.299
 You can't forgive?

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:46.940
 That's just,

00:19:47.159 --> 00:19:48.579
 that's what crazy people say.

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:49.419
 You know,

00:19:49.439 --> 00:19:50.179
 that's what the people

00:19:50.179 --> 00:19:51.439
 who mutter to themselves

00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:53.839
 and wear the same clothes

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.119
 for five weeks in a row

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.379
 and wander the streets

00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.119
 of downtown Ottawa,

00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:58.460
 they say things like that.

00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.539
 Not somebody like this.

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.299
 You can't just say,

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.939
 I forgive your sins.

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.839
 I might be able

00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:05.399
 to forgive Chris

00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.519
 if he does something to me.

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.740
 Daniel might be able

00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.419
 to forgive me

00:20:08.419 --> 00:20:09.740
 if I do something to Daniel.

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.399
 But no human being

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.099
 can just get up

00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:12.960
 and forgive the sins

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.460
 of another person.

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.059
 That's only something

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.779
 God can do.

00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.839
 And that's what Jesus says here.

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.960
 Look at it again,

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:19.039
 verse 6, 5,

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:20.600
 Son, your sins are forgiven.

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.519
 Now some of the scribes,

00:20:22.600 --> 00:20:23.140
 verse 6,

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.779
 were sitting there

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.620
 questioning their hearts.

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.440
 Why does this man

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.160
 speak like that?

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.100
 He is blaspheming.

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.120
 Who can forgive sins

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.920
 but God alone?

00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:30.440
 And immediately,

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:32.340
 Jesus, perceiving in his spirit

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:33.319
 that they questioned

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:34.039
 within themselves,

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:34.620
 said to them,

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.940
 Why do you question

00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.120
 these things in your heart?

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.819
 Which is easier to say

00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.559
 to the paralytic,

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.840
 your sons are forgiven,

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:41.880
 or to say,

00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:42.519
 rise,

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:44.180
 take up your bed and walk?

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.840
 But that you may know

00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.079
 that the Son of Man,

00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.059
 that is Jesus,

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.799
 has authority on earth

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.859
 to forgive sins.

00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:53.480
 He said to the paralytic,

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.879
 I say to you,

00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:55.599
 rise,

00:20:55.939 --> 00:20:56.720
 pick up your bed

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.419
 and go home.

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.279
 And the young man rose

00:20:59.279 --> 00:21:00.339
 and immediately picked up

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:00.740
 his bed

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.759
 and went out before them

00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:03.879
 so that they were all amazed

00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.819
 and glorified God,

00:21:04.939 --> 00:21:05.099
 saying,

00:21:05.179 --> 00:21:05.759
 We have never seen

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.659
 anything like this.

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.019
 Now, obviously,

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:10.039
 there's no logical connection

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:10.980
 between being able

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.740
 to heal somebody

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.579
 and forgive sin.

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:14.439
 but there's a very profound

00:21:14.439 --> 00:21:15.579
 spiritual,

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.379
 theological,

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.579
 and philosophical

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.919
 connection to it.

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.099
 Because once again,

00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:22.199
 we see that Jesus does

00:21:22.199 --> 00:21:23.339
 what only God can do.

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.659
 Only God can say,

00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:26.539
 Paralysis,

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.659
 be gone.

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:28.679
 Health,

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.500
 replace what was causing

00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.079
 the paralysis.

00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:32.919
 I bestow it.

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.139
 Only God can do that.

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.599
 And in fact,

00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.519
 you can't actually

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.500
 necessarily tell

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.139
 whether or not

00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:39.799
 God has forgiven your sins.

00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.439
 That's in a sense

00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:41.419
 an invisible thing.

00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:43.420
 But this is a very visible thing

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:44.420
 and it's obviously

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.660
 a very, very good test

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:48.779
 that it vindicates

00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:49.840
 and validates

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:51.160
 what Jesus says.

00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:51.720
 I mean,

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.460
 at the end of the day,

00:21:52.900 --> 00:21:54.000
 the reason that

00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.940
 there are any Christians

00:21:54.940 --> 00:21:55.500
 in the world

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.620
 is because the death

00:21:56.620 --> 00:21:57.880
 of Jesus upon the cross

00:21:57.880 --> 00:21:59.340
 in fulfillment

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.660
 of centuries

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.660
 of prophecies,

00:22:01.840 --> 00:22:02.700
 in fulfillment

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.800
 of centuries

00:22:03.800 --> 00:22:05.200
 of preparation

00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:06.100
 in terms of

00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.960
 sacrifices

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.039
 and topology

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.759
 and prophecies

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.660
 and poetry

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.640
 and wisdom

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:13.420
 and all of this

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:15.180
 and also in the context

00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:16.120
 of Jesus saying

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.800
 that he's going to die

00:22:16.800 --> 00:22:17.740
 in a particular way

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.500
 and he's going to rise

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.180
 on the third day

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:20.420
 and Jesus' death

00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.120
 upon his cross

00:22:21.120 --> 00:22:21.940
 and his resurrection,

00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.140
 the resurrection

00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:24.400
 vindicates

00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:25.759
 what Jesus says.

00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.720
 It vindicates

00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:27.400
 who he is.

00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.740
 It vindicates

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:29.380
 his teaching.

00:22:30.320 --> 00:22:30.660
 And this,

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.140
 in a sense,

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:31.900
 is just giving us

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.900
 a bit of a foretaste

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.600
 that God,

00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.600
 the Son of God,

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.500
 Jesus is going

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.220
 to do something

00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.340
 to vindicate

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.580
 all of our trust

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.699
 in his words

00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.619
 and in his work.

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:42.259
 And what we clearly

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.839
 see here

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:44.059
 is that Jesus claims

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.599
 to be able

00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.699
 to forgive sins,

00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.359
 something that only

00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:48.679
 God can do.

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.559
 And fourthly,

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.179
 God instituted

00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:53.720
 the Sabbath

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.740
 and its rules.

00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:55.899
 Very clear.

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.019
 You read the Old Testament,

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.980
 what our Jewish friends

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.659
 call the Torah

00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.539
 or the Tanakh.

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.579
 God creates

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:02.199
 the Sabbath,

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.139
 God institutes it,

00:23:04.419 --> 00:23:05.519
 God sets the rules.

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.279
 What does Jesus do?

00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.779
 He says he is

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.720
 the Lord of the Sabbath

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.859
 and can change

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.379
 the rules.

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.420
 Only God can do that.

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:14.839
 Only God.

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.379
 Look at it,

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.599
 it's Mark chapter 4

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.359
 verses 27 to 28.

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.139
 Mark chapter 4

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:23.139
 verses 27 to 28.

00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:25.079
 Maybe I have

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.799
 the wrong text

00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:26.539
 which would just be

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.740
 very, very, very...

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.220
 Mark 2, sorry,

00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.139
 I can't read

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:30.759
 my own writing.

00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:32.279
 Mark chapter 2

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:34.879
 verses 27 to 28.

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:36.540
 And it goes like this.

00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:39.000
 And he said to them,

00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:39.880
 they're having a debate

00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.900
 about what Jesus'

00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.140
 disciples were doing,

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.320
 and Jesus said to them,

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.420
 the Sabbath was made

00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:44.960
 for man,

00:23:45.020 --> 00:23:46.100
 not man for the Sabbath.

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:48.860
 So the Son of Man,

00:23:49.320 --> 00:23:50.340
 referring to himself,

00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.620
 is Lord,

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.940
 even of the Sabbath.

00:23:53.820 --> 00:23:54.980
 He takes the prerogative

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.900
 of God

00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:57.260
 in terms of the Sabbath.

00:23:58.760 --> 00:23:59.760
 Jesus acted like

00:23:59.760 --> 00:24:01.440
 only God can act

00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.860
 when he stilled the storm.

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.679
 Jesus acted like

00:24:04.679 --> 00:24:05.619
 only God can act

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:06.579
 when he stilled the storm.

00:24:06.699 --> 00:24:08.000
 Look at Mark chapter 4

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:09.979
 verses 39 to 41.

00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.339
 They're in a storm

00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:13.219
 with the disciples.

00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.759
 It's a terrible,

00:24:14.939 --> 00:24:15.659
 terrible storm.

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.399
 They think they're all

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.119
 going to die.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.559
 And in verse 39,

00:24:18.959 --> 00:24:19.659
 and he awoke

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.959
 and rebuked the wind

00:24:20.959 --> 00:24:22.219
 and said to the sea,

00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:23.119
 peace,

00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:24.139
 be still.

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.919
 And the wind ceased

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.699
 and there was

00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:27.399
 a great calm.

00:24:28.219 --> 00:24:28.939
 And he said to them,

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:30.979
 why are you so afraid?

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.179
 Have you still no faith?

00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.819
 And they were filled

00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.639
 with great fear

00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.519
 and said to one another,

00:24:35.719 --> 00:24:36.799
 who then is this

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.799
 that even the wind

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:39.179
 and the sea obey him?

00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:40.500
 Only God

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.799
 can speak to the wind

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:43.079
 and tell it to stop

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.159
 and it stops.

00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:46.219
 To take the waves,

00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.719
 even if all the wind

00:24:47.719 --> 00:24:48.779
 and all the current

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.099
 all of a sudden

00:24:50.099 --> 00:24:50.899
 was to die,

00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:51.859
 those of you

00:24:51.859 --> 00:24:52.579
 who've been on water

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.219
 know that it takes

00:24:53.219 --> 00:24:53.859
 a long time

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.459
 for the waves

00:24:54.459 --> 00:24:55.139
 to be still.

00:24:55.899 --> 00:24:56.740
 Only God

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.899
 can actually tell

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.839
 the wind to stop

00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:00.659
 and the waves to stop

00:25:00.660 --> 00:25:02.000
 and for there

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.620
 to be calm.

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.519
 Jesus didn't pray

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.460
 that God would do it,

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.880
 he merely said it

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.880
 and it happened.

00:25:09.080 --> 00:25:09.740
 Only God

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.759
 can do that.

00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:13.080
 Jesus claimed

00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:14.300
 that he would rule

00:25:14.300 --> 00:25:15.860
 from God's throne.

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.240
 Jesus claimed

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:19.480
 that he would rule

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:21.100
 from God's throne.

00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:23.099
 Mark chapter 14

00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:25.079
 verses 61 to 64.

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:27.099
 Mark 14

00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:29.980
 verses 61 to 64.

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.819
 Now this is also

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.779
 very significant

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:35.379
 because he also does,

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.079
 first of all,

00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:36.859
 he's doing this

00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:38.299
 while he's under oath

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:40.059
 and he's on trial

00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:41.019
 for his life

00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:43.000
 and he's under oath

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:46.319
 and hear how he responds.

00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:48.359
 So they say to him,

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.399
 verse 61,

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.620
 but he remained silent

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.860
 and made no answer.

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:52.900
 Again,

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:53.860
 the high priest said,

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:55.040
 are you the Christ,

00:25:55.540 --> 00:25:56.780
 the son of the blessed?

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.360
 Because they were

00:25:58.360 --> 00:25:58.920
 devout Jews,

00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.480
 they're not going to say

00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.240
 the divine name,

00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.200
 they're actually saying

00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:01.920
 in a sense,

00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:04.100
 are you the son of Yahweh?

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.620
 And back then,

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.000
 our culture

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.840
 is completely

00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:10.759
 and utterly confused

00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.400
 about what it means

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.320
 to be a human being.

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.480
 And that's

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:17.080
 a whole other sermon

00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:17.840
 that ultimately

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.500
 goes back

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.279
 for the arguments

00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.400
 in favor of abortion

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.880
 that ultimately

00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:23.019
 make us all now

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.900
 very confused

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:25.079
 about what a human being is

00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:26.039
 or what a human being isn't,

00:26:26.079 --> 00:26:26.759
 what a person is

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.660
 and what a person isn't.

00:26:28.119 --> 00:26:28.920
 Jewish people weren't,

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.180
 they understood

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.799
 that if he was

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.779
 the son of the blessed one,

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.480
 he is God.

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.680
 And they asked him

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.319
 that directly.

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.059
 And Jesus said,

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:37.579
 and here,

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.759
 if you go back

00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.000
 to the book of Exodus,

00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.980
 in chapter three,

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.859
 where God reveals himself,

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.940
 he reveals himself

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.619
 as I am.

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:48.139
 And if you read

00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.239
 the Greek version

00:26:49.239 --> 00:26:50.779
 of the Hebrew text,

00:26:51.139 --> 00:26:52.839
 you see that Jesus says

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:54.199
 that he is,

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.399
 I am.

00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.839
 He says,

00:26:57.219 --> 00:26:58.439
 I am God

00:26:58.439 --> 00:26:59.239
 to them

00:26:59.239 --> 00:27:00.039
 in question

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.779
 as to whether he is

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.739
 the son of the blessed one.

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.439
 He says,

00:27:02.559 --> 00:27:03.079
 I am.

00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.679
 And then to emphasize

00:27:04.679 --> 00:27:05.379
 that he said,

00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.039
 and you will see

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.799
 the son of man

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:08.000
 seated at the right hand

00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.739
 of the power

00:27:08.739 --> 00:27:10.359
 and coming with the clouds

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.559
 on high of heaven.

00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.599
 And here,

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.460
 it doesn't sort of mean

00:27:13.460 --> 00:27:13.799
 like,

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.440
 you know,

00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.139
 right now,

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.440
 Daniel's,

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.139
 you guys are all,

00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:17.440
 you know,

00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.559
 you folks over here

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.339
 are sitting at my right,

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.119
 but I'm obviously,

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.819
 no, no, no, no.

00:27:21.179 --> 00:27:22.079
 The picture is

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.960
 of a co-regent

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.419
 of a very,

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.399
 very big throne.

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:25.919
 And that in fact

00:27:25.919 --> 00:27:26.740
 that there's God

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.299
 on a throne

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.299
 and right on the throne

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.679
 with him

00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:29.659
 at his right hand

00:27:29.659 --> 00:27:30.519
 is Jesus.

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.399
 So he pronounces

00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:33.299
 the divine name.

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:33.740
 He says,

00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:34.319
 I am,

00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.139
 I am God.

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:35.859
 And he says,

00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:36.480
 I'm actually,

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.200
 you're going to see me.

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:37.980
 I will be sitting

00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.319
 on God's throne

00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.279
 with God.

00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:44.559
 And how do they respond?

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.480
 And the high priest

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.359
 tore his garments

00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:47.799
 and said,

00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.099
 what further witnesses

00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:50.059
 do we need?

00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:51.200
 You have heard

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.579
 his blasphemy.

00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:54.259
 What is your decision?

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:55.440
 And they all

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.539
 condemned him

00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.579
 as deserving

00:27:57.579 --> 00:27:58.759
 death.

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.500
 Jesus claimed

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.319
 that he was God,

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.299
 that he would rule

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.460
 from God's throne.

00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.740
 And finally,

00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.639
 and I'm going to leave

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:09.160
 Mark

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:10.340
 for the first time,

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:12.100
 look at the last text,

00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.759
 Jesus accepted

00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:14.779
 people's worship

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.720
 as he taught

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.400
 the Trinity.

00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.440
 Jesus accepted

00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:19.779
 people's worship

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.900
 as he taught

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.660
 the Trinity.

00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:22.860
 Look at Matthew

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.860
 chapter 28

00:28:23.860 --> 00:28:25.779
 verses 17 to 20.

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.500
 So I've gone away

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.000
 from Mark,

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.680
 but I've gone to

00:28:28.680 --> 00:28:29.140
 another one

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.680
 that even skeptics

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.860
 will acknowledge.

00:28:32.300 --> 00:28:32.580
 In fact,

00:28:32.620 --> 00:28:33.240
 actually up until

00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:34.340
 about the year 1800,

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.259
 this was viewed

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.460
 as the earliest text.

00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:38.600
 But around the 1800s

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.200
 it started to move

00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:40.160
 towards being Mark.

00:28:40.900 --> 00:28:42.079
 And here's what it is.

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:42.660
 It's after the

00:28:42.660 --> 00:28:43.579
 resurrection of Jesus.

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.180
 He's died.

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.140
 He's risen from the dead.

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.259
 Verse 17,

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.559
 And when they saw him,

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.340
 they worshipped him,

00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:49.180
 but some doubted.

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.819
 Now just sort of

00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.940
 pause here about this.

00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:52.559
 It's an accurate

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.059
 translation,

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:54.140
 but it's a little bit

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.640
 misleading.

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:55.539
 Now,

00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.140
 I've been speaking

00:28:57.140 --> 00:28:58.160
 for 27 minutes.

00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.920
 I don't know how many

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.960
 have I put to sleep.

00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:01.299
 I'm not asking for a test,

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.240
 but I'm sure I've put

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.019
 some of you to sleep.

00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.000
 I don't know how many

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.940
 of you were worshipping.

00:29:05.100 --> 00:29:05.279
 Why?

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:06.080
 Because in a sense,

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:06.880
 whatever worshipping

00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.120
 you're doing is going on

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.519
 behind your eyeballs

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.400
 and in your heart.

00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:11.860
 But that's not what

00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.600
 he's referring to

00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.519
 because then how would

00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.000
 he know whether

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.259
 anybody's worshipping him?

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.059
 What they mean is,

00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:19.500
 they fall on their face

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.440
 prostrate.

00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:24.140
 They do FaceTime

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:24.940
 in front of Jesus.

00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.840
 That's what the word

00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.820
 worship here means.

00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.279
 It's not only

00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.000
 bowing low,

00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:30.920
 but actually on the ground.

00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.039
 They're,

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.700
 think,

00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:35.200
 on the ground.

00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.160
 And the doubted

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.080
 is that there's

00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:38.700
 some of them there,

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.120
 they're not,

00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:42.200
 like,

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.360
 should it be like this?

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:45.240
 Should I stand?

00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:45.660
 Like,

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.000
 that's the doubting.

00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:47.279
 Like,

00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.840
 what do you do?

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:50.799
 Do you go full face

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.720
 worship?

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.799
 So that's what they're seeing.

00:29:53.860 --> 00:29:54.299
 If you were there

00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.160
 with a time machine,

00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:55.880
 you went back in time

00:29:55.880 --> 00:29:56.559
 with a time machine,

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:58.039
 you'd see Jesus appear

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:59.500
 to all of these disciples

00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.279
 after he's risen

00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:00.980
 from the dead.

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:02.000
 bang,

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.680
 huge number of them

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.559
 right on their face

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.480
 worshiping him.

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.740
 And Jesus doesn't rebuke them.

00:30:08.120 --> 00:30:09.500
 You go look at the book of Acts.

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.839
 There's a time in the book of Acts

00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:11.839
 where Paul and Barnabas,

00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.519
 Paul performs a mighty miracle,

00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.720
 and all of a sudden

00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.500
 in the local dialect,

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:15.839
 they said,

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.339
 good grief,

00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.559
 the gods have come down

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.279
 and they go

00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.400
 and they get their pagan priest

00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.279
 and they come and want to start

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:21.880
 offering sacrifices

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:23.059
 to Paul and Barnabas.

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.380
 And Paul and Barnabas

00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:24.900
 run and say,

00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.079
 no,

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.200
 no,

00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:25.319
 no,

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:25.559
 no,

00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:25.700
 no,

00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:25.819
 no,

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.079
 no,

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:26.180
 no.

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.279
 You have to leave

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.900
 all these idols.

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.539
 I'm not God.

00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.519
 Don't worship me.

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:32.220
 But here Jesus accepts it.

00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.900
 And then listen to what he does

00:30:33.900 --> 00:30:35.900
 in the context of accepting worship.

00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.500
 Verse 18,

00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:39.900
 And Jesus came and said to them,

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:43.200
 All authority in heaven

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.480
 and on earth

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:46.120
 has been given to me.

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.580
 Go therefore

00:30:47.580 --> 00:30:48.799
 and make disciples

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.660
 of all nations,

00:30:49.900 --> 00:30:50.920
 baptizing them.

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.360
 Here's the key.

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:54.099
 In the name,

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.019
 singular.

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.899
 Not in the names

00:30:56.899 --> 00:30:57.740
 of the Father

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.399
 and of the Son

00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:59.319
 and of the Holy Spirit,

00:30:59.719 --> 00:31:00.719
 but in the name,

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.719
 singular.

00:31:02.439 --> 00:31:03.219
 And for Jewish

00:31:03.219 --> 00:31:04.240
 and Christian thought,

00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:06.199
 the name represents

00:31:06.199 --> 00:31:07.299
 identity.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.599
 It represents,

00:31:09.219 --> 00:31:09.599
 in a sense,

00:31:09.659 --> 00:31:10.559
 the whole person,

00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.299
 the whole nature

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.379
 and person of God.

00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.059
 And so,

00:31:13.159 --> 00:31:13.639
 in a sense,

00:31:13.919 --> 00:31:14.359
 when he says,

00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.099
 in the name,

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.799
 singular,

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.279
 of the Father

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.719
 and the Son

00:31:17.719 --> 00:31:18.439
 and of the Holy Spirit,

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:19.240
 we see here

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.399
 in microcosm

00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:21.519
 the building blocks

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:23.200
 of all of the creeds

00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.819
 on the doctrine

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.339
 of the Trinity.

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:26.160
 There is but one God

00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:26.639
 who exists

00:31:26.639 --> 00:31:27.440
 as three persons,

00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:28.240
 Father, Son,

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.039
 and Holy Spirit.

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.460
 All in the context

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.500
 of receiving worship,

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.460
 the claim of all authority

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.200
 in heaven and earth

00:31:35.200 --> 00:31:36.160
 being given to him.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.279
 And then you continue on,

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:38.980
 verse 20,

00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.200
 teaching them to observe

00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:42.519
 all that I have commanded you

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:44.039
 as if he is God.

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.099
 And then this,

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.559
 and behold,

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.259
 I am with you

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:47.160
 always to the ends

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.779
 of the age.

00:31:48.339 --> 00:31:49.799
 Only God can be omnipresent.

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:54.099
 Why do Christians

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:54.879
 believe in the Trinity?

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.480
 It's not because

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.259
 of sexed,

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.319
 crazed,

00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:01.799
 incel-type monks

00:32:01.799 --> 00:32:04.079
 or Constantine

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:05.279
 having a power play.

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.160
 It's all because

00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:07.660
 of Jesus.

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.539
 And if you just add

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.299
 a fourth thing

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.799
 that Jesus was fully human,

00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.200
 if I was to do

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.920
 a fourth thing,

00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.500
 which I don't have time for,

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.079
 and it just showed

00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:18.700
 how he was tired,

00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:19.500
 he cried,

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.379
 he slept,

00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:21.279
 he had to eat,

00:32:21.519 --> 00:32:22.720
 all those types of things,

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.420
 you'd have all

00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.480
 of the building blocks

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.559
 of all of the doctrine

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.059
 of the Trinity

00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.059
 and the Incarnation.

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.900
 And the whole history

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:33.180
 of people who doubt it

00:32:33.180 --> 00:32:35.139
 or try to go into heresy

00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.000
 are all people

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.799
 who lose track

00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.379
 of these things

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.460
 and can't account

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.579
 for Jesus.

00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:41.079
 And I've just used Mark.

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.519
 Didn't even go into

00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.319
 Matthew, Luke,

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.279
 John, Paul,

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.799
 Hebrews.

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:47.680
 Just Mark.

00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:50.299
 So here's the thing

00:32:50.299 --> 00:32:50.799
 that's very,

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:51.460
 very important.

00:32:51.620 --> 00:32:52.200
 The doctrine

00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:53.580
 is tethered to Jesus,

00:32:53.820 --> 00:32:54.960
 it's anchored in Jesus,

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.740
 it grows from Jesus.

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.680
 It's really just merely

00:32:58.680 --> 00:33:00.220
 trying to honor Jesus

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.740
 and what he taught.

00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:03.480
 And here's the thing

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.660
 with all of these teachings.

00:33:04.799 --> 00:33:06.000
 What you cannot say

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:07.000
 after hearing this,

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.140
 in this argument,

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.920
 most people think

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.460
 it goes back

00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.200
 to C.S. Lewis,

00:33:10.380 --> 00:33:12.039
 but Lewis learned it

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.480
 from Athanasius

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:16.559
 1,700 some odd years ago.

00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:18.400
 What you cannot say

00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.299
 after hearing this

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.259
 is that Jesus was

00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.460
 merely a prophet

00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.460
 or a good man.

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:25.500
 Because we would all agree

00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:27.079
 that if in fact

00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:27.740
 Jesus knew

00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.220
 that this was not true,

00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:31.579
 then he's a liar.

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.880
 He's not a good man.

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.680
 He's a deceiver.

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.259
 He cannot be a prophet.

00:33:35.360 --> 00:33:36.500
 He cannot be a good man.

00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.240
 He cannot be

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:38.259
 a trustworthy teacher.

00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:39.480
 He is a liar

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.660
 and a deceiver.

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:41.900
 And he deserves

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.960
 whatever punishment

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:43.600
 he gets.

00:33:44.120 --> 00:33:45.259
 I got a scamming

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.140
 phone message

00:33:46.140 --> 00:33:46.759
 the other day

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.740
 claiming that I had

00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:48.519
 to give information

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.600
 about my bank account

00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:51.019
 and I text in the back,

00:33:51.100 --> 00:33:51.720
 I hope you all

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.279
 go to jail.

00:33:54.600 --> 00:33:55.819
 That was my response.

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.720
 I hope you all

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.319
 go to jail.

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.480
 And you all think,

00:33:59.620 --> 00:33:59.980
 way to go.

00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:00.980
 I'm going to do that too.

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.160
 Like that's the thing to do.

00:34:02.840 --> 00:34:03.940
 The other thing is,

00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:04.519
 and we all,

00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:06.600
 we come to downtown Ottawa,

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.680
 you go wandering around,

00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.119
 you're going to see

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:09.380
 lots of crazy people

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.699
 who think that

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.280
 there are all sorts

00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:12.119
 of crazy things,

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:12.940
 who hear from God,

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.659
 who are God.

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.260
 So Jesus either

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.380
 thinks he's God

00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:17.480
 and he isn't,

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:19.240
 and then he's a crazy man.

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.340
 And you know what?

00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:22.920
 Nobody should worship

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.820
 a crazy man.

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:25.320
 A crazy man needs help.

00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.960
 Or he's a liar.

00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:29.880
 The only other option is,

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.639
 and this is what

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.440
 Christians believe,

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.400
 is that it's all true,

00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.260
 that he is in fact

00:34:34.260 --> 00:34:34.780
 the Lord.

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:36.619
 That God himself

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.360
 has come into

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.220
 his creation

00:34:38.220 --> 00:34:39.980
 to do what only God

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:40.539
 can do

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:42.179
 to make himself known

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:43.840
 and to redeem

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.599
 human beings.

00:34:45.860 --> 00:34:46.719
 But some of you

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.119
 might say,

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:47.420
 George,

00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.980
 that's still so complicated

00:34:48.980 --> 00:34:50.139
 and all of that

00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.880
 type of stuff.

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.980
 Like, you know,

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.699
 George, okay,

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.260
 those are all

00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:54.460
 very interesting points

00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:55.179
 and I can sort of

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:56.360
 see how it is

00:34:56.360 --> 00:34:57.800
 that you Christians

00:34:57.800 --> 00:34:58.599
 think this,

00:34:58.719 --> 00:34:59.260
 but George,

00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.980
 come on,

00:35:00.099 --> 00:35:00.820
 good grief,

00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.980
 compared to just

00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.940
 some other religions

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.500
 that just very clearly

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.179
 teach that there's

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:05.980
 only one God

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.099
 or other types

00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:07.619
 of religions

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.179
 that teach that

00:35:08.179 --> 00:35:09.320
 all things are God.

00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:09.619
 I mean,

00:35:09.659 --> 00:35:10.179
 those are just,

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.980
 they're simple,

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:13.780
 they're more plausible,

00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.059
 they're obviously

00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:17.860
 more likely to be true.

00:35:20.500 --> 00:35:21.019
 Well,

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:24.280
 that's true.

00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:26.780
 They are vastly

00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.559
 more plausible

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.340
 to be true.

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:31.460
 But here's the problem,

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:34.300
 and it's a very big problem.

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:37.179
 This,

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.639
 my wife and I,

00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:39.900
 we married when we were 13

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.800
 and so coming up in the fall

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:43.000
 we'll be married 40 years.

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:43.860
 That's how we managed

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:45.380
 to be our young age

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.400
 and still be married

00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.460
 for such a long time.

00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:48.619
 And if you,

00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.900
 if you ask my wife

00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.780
 if she really fully

00:35:50.780 --> 00:35:51.740
 understands me,

00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.400
 she'd say,

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:54.079
 no.

00:35:55.219 --> 00:35:56.519
 Some things I understand,

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.179
 but there's things

00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.699
 about George

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.619
 that are just a mystery.

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:00.280
 Like,

00:36:00.420 --> 00:36:00.780
 I just,

00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:01.980
 I still haven't figured

00:36:01.980 --> 00:36:02.619
 these things out

00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.280
 about George.

00:36:04.099 --> 00:36:04.480
 And,

00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:04.880
 you know,

00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:05.760
 we all know what it's like

00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:06.480
 to try to even just

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.800
 understand another human being.

00:36:09.680 --> 00:36:10.520
 Or actually even

00:36:10.520 --> 00:36:11.500
 understanding ourselves.

00:36:12.600 --> 00:36:12.840
 Like,

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.060
 very,

00:36:13.160 --> 00:36:14.020
 very shallow people

00:36:14.020 --> 00:36:14.880
 think they understand

00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.360
 themselves.

00:36:16.180 --> 00:36:17.340
 But once you actually

00:36:17.340 --> 00:36:18.060
 get going,

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:18.560
 like,

00:36:18.640 --> 00:36:19.300
 you realize there's

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.160
 just complexities

00:36:20.160 --> 00:36:22.780
 in any human being

00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:23.340
 that we don't really

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:24.460
 understand ourselves.

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.160
 And I,

00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:27.540
 and I'm,

00:36:27.640 --> 00:36:28.560
 I've been living

00:36:28.560 --> 00:36:29.080
 with myself

00:36:29.080 --> 00:36:30.160
 for a long time.

00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:30.760
 And I've been,

00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:31.040
 you know,

00:36:31.080 --> 00:36:31.200
 with,

00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:31.920
 I've known Louise

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.260
 a long,

00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.780
 long time

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.079
 and I,

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.579
 I still don't

00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:34.480
 fully understand her.

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.340
 I can't get my mind

00:36:35.340 --> 00:36:36.780
 completely around her.

00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:38.380
 The only way

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.360
 that I could get my mind

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.639
 completely around her

00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.500
 is if I'm more

00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:42.000
 than human.

00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.099
 But you see,

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:46.860
 that's exactly

00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:48.079
 the type of false

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:48.840
 step we're taking

00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.420
 with God.

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:50.720
 You see,

00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.559
 if God

00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:52.320
 is easy

00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.340
 to understand,

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.440
 it means

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:55.579
 he can't be God.

00:36:55.579 --> 00:36:57.579
 it means

00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.259
 that he's less

00:36:58.259 --> 00:36:59.199
 than a human being.

00:37:00.659 --> 00:37:01.319
 We can have

00:37:01.319 --> 00:37:01.900
 a pretty good

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.500
 understanding

00:37:02.500 --> 00:37:03.179
 of a leaf.

00:37:04.420 --> 00:37:05.420
 Leaf is way less

00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.179
 than a human being.

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.480
 Or a bug,

00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:08.199
 way less than

00:37:08.199 --> 00:37:08.779
 a human being.

00:37:09.480 --> 00:37:10.179
 But we can't have

00:37:10.179 --> 00:37:11.059
 a very good understanding

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:12.079
 of even a creature

00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:13.279
 the same as us,

00:37:13.299 --> 00:37:13.739
 a person.

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.719
 Only someone

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.400
 greater

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.480
 than a human

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:17.719
 could have

00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.759
 the knowledge

00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:19.259
 of a human

00:37:19.259 --> 00:37:19.920
 the way we have

00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.299
 the knowledge

00:37:20.299 --> 00:37:20.900
 of a bug.

00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:22.579
 And so if we claim

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:23.019
 that we have

00:37:23.019 --> 00:37:24.059
 that knowledge of God,

00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.420
 you know what

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:25.219
 that's actually showing?

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.819
 It's showing

00:37:25.819 --> 00:37:27.279
 that that understanding

00:37:27.279 --> 00:37:27.659
 of God

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.959
 cannot possibly

00:37:28.959 --> 00:37:29.719
 be true.

00:37:31.199 --> 00:37:32.019
 I don't mean

00:37:32.019 --> 00:37:32.519
 to offend,

00:37:32.619 --> 00:37:33.199
 but it cannot

00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.599
 possibly be true.

00:37:35.339 --> 00:37:36.059
 Your conception

00:37:36.059 --> 00:37:36.659
 of God

00:37:36.659 --> 00:37:37.480
 is of a being

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:39.019
 less than you,

00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:40.139
 not greater,

00:37:40.759 --> 00:37:42.659
 no matter how much

00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:43.279
 you add worship

00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:43.799
 to it.

00:37:45.439 --> 00:37:46.579
 And out of all

00:37:46.579 --> 00:37:47.239
 of the systems

00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:48.039
 of philosophy,

00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:48.699
 out of all

00:37:48.699 --> 00:37:49.279
 of the systems

00:37:49.279 --> 00:37:49.859
 of theology,

00:37:50.159 --> 00:37:50.599
 out of all

00:37:50.599 --> 00:37:51.519
 of the ideologies,

00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:52.079
 and out of all

00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:52.659
 of the religions,

00:37:52.659 --> 00:37:53.219
 there is only

00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:54.339
 one option

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:56.100
 that portrays

00:37:56.100 --> 00:37:56.579
 God

00:37:56.579 --> 00:37:57.200
 as something

00:37:57.200 --> 00:37:57.740
 greater than

00:37:57.740 --> 00:37:58.340
 our mind.

00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:00.500
 In fact,

00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:01.160
 there's only

00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:02.660
 one teacher,

00:38:03.100 --> 00:38:04.019
 only one faith,

00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:05.900
 that is even

00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:06.579
 remotely

00:38:06.579 --> 00:38:07.460
 in the correct

00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:08.200
 direction

00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:09.340
 that if there

00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:09.780
 is a God,

00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.360
 what that God

00:38:10.360 --> 00:38:11.100
 must be like.

00:38:12.460 --> 00:38:13.059
 Now, of course,

00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:13.780
 this doesn't prove

00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:14.340
 the Christian

00:38:14.340 --> 00:38:15.480
 conception of God

00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:15.900
 is correct,

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.440
 but there's no

00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:17.160
 other alternatives.

00:38:17.159 --> 00:38:17.359
 alternatives.

00:38:18.519 --> 00:38:19.159
 There are no

00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:20.059
 other alternatives.

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:25.079
 Next week in the

00:38:25.079 --> 00:38:25.899
 blog, I'll give you

00:38:25.899 --> 00:38:26.639
 a suggestion of

00:38:26.639 --> 00:38:27.279
 some books to

00:38:27.279 --> 00:38:27.940
 help you understand

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.480
 the doctrine of

00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:28.739
 the Trinity,

00:38:28.859 --> 00:38:29.359
 but you can at

00:38:29.359 --> 00:38:29.940
 least see that

00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:31.859
 while this idea

00:38:31.859 --> 00:38:32.779
 of plausibility

00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.739
 is very plausible

00:38:33.739 --> 00:38:34.279
 to us,

00:38:34.359 --> 00:38:34.799
 hence its

00:38:34.799 --> 00:38:35.460
 plausibility,

00:38:35.759 --> 00:38:36.839
 it in fact is a

00:38:36.839 --> 00:38:37.759
 witness against

00:38:37.759 --> 00:38:39.699
 us that those

00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.519
 other conceptions

00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:41.099
 of God cannot

00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.980
 possibly be true.

00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:45.059
 There has to be

00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.739
 something about

00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:46.840
 understanding a

00:38:46.840 --> 00:38:47.599
 being who is

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.719
 infinitely greater

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:49.279
 than you,

00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:50.619
 because if you

00:38:50.619 --> 00:38:51.099
 think about it

00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:51.500
 for a second,

00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:52.219
 the difference

00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.099
 between you and

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.539
 a leaf is a

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.299
 finite difference.

00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:55.799
 The difference

00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:56.460
 between you and

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.279
 a bug is a

00:38:57.279 --> 00:38:58.400
 finite distance.

00:38:58.960 --> 00:38:59.480
 The distance

00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.119
 between you and

00:39:00.119 --> 00:39:00.639
 God is an

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:01.599
 infinite distance.

00:39:02.619 --> 00:39:03.219
 And so it is

00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:03.739
 that there must

00:39:03.739 --> 00:39:04.400
 be, that isn't

00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:04.980
 that the doctrine

00:39:04.980 --> 00:39:05.759
 of the Trinity

00:39:05.759 --> 00:39:06.940
 is irrational,

00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:09.400
 but it's actually

00:39:09.400 --> 00:39:10.480
 opening up to

00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:11.299
 the idea that

00:39:11.299 --> 00:39:12.940
 God in fact is

00:39:12.940 --> 00:39:14.420
 vastly greater

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.159
 than you,

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:16.240
 that it's as

00:39:16.240 --> 00:39:17.119
 if you were in

00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:17.880
 a subterranean

00:39:17.880 --> 00:39:19.340
 cavern and

00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:20.019
 they bring you

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.860
 into a cavern

00:39:20.860 --> 00:39:23.280
 and all you

00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:23.840
 have is your

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:25.079
 cell phone and

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:25.500
 you can't even

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.200
 use the flashlight

00:39:26.200 --> 00:39:26.720
 thing, all you

00:39:26.720 --> 00:39:27.260
 can do is turn

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:28.260
 it on and all

00:39:28.260 --> 00:39:28.880
 you can do is

00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.700
 get the tiniest

00:39:29.700 --> 00:39:30.159
 little bit of

00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:30.700
 an idea,

00:39:31.599 --> 00:39:32.360
 but you just

00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:33.079
 have a sense

00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:33.780
 from that and

00:39:33.780 --> 00:39:34.519
 from the sound

00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.019
 that you are in

00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:35.940
 a huge space.

00:39:36.059 --> 00:39:36.519
 And occasionally

00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:37.079
 if you look,

00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:38.119
 you see things

00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:38.700
 that are wonderful

00:39:38.700 --> 00:39:39.539
 and beautiful and

00:39:39.539 --> 00:39:40.119
 you'd be filled

00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:41.000
 with awe and

00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:42.240
 filled with fear

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:43.359
 because you're

00:39:43.359 --> 00:39:44.159
 in a tiny

00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.939
 light in a

00:39:44.939 --> 00:39:45.719
 huge space

00:39:45.719 --> 00:39:46.699
 and that is

00:39:46.699 --> 00:39:47.459
 exactly what it's

00:39:47.459 --> 00:39:47.959
 like with us

00:39:47.959 --> 00:39:48.539
 with God.

00:39:48.859 --> 00:39:49.719
 Our minds are

00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:50.739
 tiny and God

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:52.319
 is vast and

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:53.479
 he reveals true

00:39:53.479 --> 00:39:54.500
 truth to us even

00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:55.479
 though it in a

00:39:55.479 --> 00:39:56.039
 sense is far

00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.579
 bigger than our

00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:57.039
 minds.

00:39:58.839 --> 00:39:59.639
 I need to draw

00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.459
 this to a close,

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.239
 but this is really

00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:02.399
 important good news.

00:40:02.559 --> 00:40:03.259
 The final point,

00:40:03.979 --> 00:40:04.799
 only God can

00:40:04.799 --> 00:40:06.319
 reveal himself and

00:40:06.319 --> 00:40:07.239
 only God can

00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:08.539
 provide the way

00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:09.219
 to himself.

00:40:09.219 --> 00:40:10.959
 If you think

00:40:10.959 --> 00:40:11.579
 about it for a

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:11.739
 second,

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.259
 if you sit

00:40:13.259 --> 00:40:13.639
 beside,

00:40:13.799 --> 00:40:14.859
 after church

00:40:14.859 --> 00:40:15.239
 you try to

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:16.139
 have a conversation

00:40:16.139 --> 00:40:16.779
 with somebody

00:40:16.779 --> 00:40:17.739
 and they refuse

00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:18.459
 to even talk

00:40:18.459 --> 00:40:18.739
 to you,

00:40:18.779 --> 00:40:19.539
 even look at you,

00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:20.139
 even answer any

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:20.639
 of your questions,

00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:21.239
 you can't know

00:40:21.239 --> 00:40:21.439
 them.

00:40:21.919 --> 00:40:22.379
 You need that

00:40:22.379 --> 00:40:23.079
 other person to

00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.839
 reveal something

00:40:23.839 --> 00:40:24.599
 about themselves

00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:25.379
 for you to know

00:40:25.379 --> 00:40:25.659
 them.

00:40:26.319 --> 00:40:26.819
 And so it is

00:40:26.819 --> 00:40:27.239
 with God.

00:40:27.299 --> 00:40:27.759
 Unless God

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.659
 reveals himself,

00:40:28.839 --> 00:40:29.619
 we cannot know

00:40:29.619 --> 00:40:29.919
 him.

00:40:30.519 --> 00:40:31.119
 And at the same

00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.519
 time,

00:40:31.879 --> 00:40:32.679
 that only God,

00:40:32.759 --> 00:40:33.279
 if there is this

00:40:33.279 --> 00:40:33.819
 infinite God,

00:40:33.899 --> 00:40:34.539
 the only way who

00:40:34.539 --> 00:40:35.459
 can provide a way

00:40:35.459 --> 00:40:36.259
 towards God,

00:40:36.399 --> 00:40:36.959
 to God,

00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:37.859
 has to be God

00:40:37.859 --> 00:40:38.279
 himself.

00:40:38.399 --> 00:40:38.939
 It can't come

00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:39.619
 from a prophet

00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.840
 or philosophy

00:40:40.840 --> 00:40:42.280
 or technology

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:43.119
 or technique

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:43.900
 or spirituality.

00:40:43.900 --> 00:40:45.039
 It has to come

00:40:45.039 --> 00:40:45.619
 from God

00:40:45.619 --> 00:40:46.559
 or it can't

00:40:46.559 --> 00:40:47.760
 possibly be real.

00:40:48.200 --> 00:40:49.260
 Only the infinite

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:50.700
 can provide a way

00:40:50.700 --> 00:40:51.460
 for the finite

00:40:51.460 --> 00:40:52.440
 to connect

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.179
 to the infinite.

00:40:54.460 --> 00:40:55.019
 And that's what

00:40:55.019 --> 00:40:56.159
 we hear with

00:40:56.159 --> 00:40:57.240
 Jesus about

00:40:57.240 --> 00:40:57.780
 the gospel.

00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:58.400
 And it's not

00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:58.820
 just,

00:40:59.260 --> 00:40:59.400
 I mean,

00:40:59.460 --> 00:41:00.159
 here's the thing,

00:41:01.579 --> 00:41:02.000
 I mean,

00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:02.900
 things about this,

00:41:03.159 --> 00:41:04.360
 which I've run

00:41:04.360 --> 00:41:04.679
 out of time,

00:41:04.740 --> 00:41:05.360
 but they're so

00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.860
 precious.

00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:07.679
 Nothing grounds

00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:08.239
 the dignity

00:41:08.239 --> 00:41:09.159
 of human being

00:41:09.159 --> 00:41:09.879
 more than

00:41:09.879 --> 00:41:10.359
 the doctrine

00:41:10.359 --> 00:41:10.839
 of the Trinity

00:41:10.839 --> 00:41:11.599
 and this idea

00:41:11.599 --> 00:41:12.239
 that God,

00:41:12.339 --> 00:41:13.039
 the Son of God,

00:41:13.139 --> 00:41:14.159
 took on flesh

00:41:14.159 --> 00:41:15.039
 and lived amongst

00:41:15.039 --> 00:41:15.379
 us.

00:41:15.940 --> 00:41:16.879
 To understand

00:41:16.879 --> 00:41:18.159
 that God himself

00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:18.940
 could take into

00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:19.879
 himself our human

00:41:19.879 --> 00:41:20.199
 nature,

00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.119
 that he would walk

00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:21.779
 amongst us,

00:41:22.059 --> 00:41:22.759
 gives us most

00:41:22.759 --> 00:41:23.960
 profound dignity

00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:25.059
 to every human

00:41:25.059 --> 00:41:26.279
 being that we

00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:26.679
 could meet.

00:41:26.859 --> 00:41:27.659
 It doesn't matter

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.179
 if they're from

00:41:28.179 --> 00:41:29.179
 China or from

00:41:29.179 --> 00:41:29.719
 Africa,

00:41:30.099 --> 00:41:31.119
 from North America,

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.619
 it doesn't matter

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.239
 if they're from

00:41:33.239 --> 00:41:34.279
 the far north,

00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:35.659
 from the Middle East,

00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:37.339
 that every God,

00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:38.299
 the Son of God,

00:41:38.420 --> 00:41:39.299
 took on flesh

00:41:39.299 --> 00:41:40.179
 and walked amongst

00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:40.960
 us and every

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.940
 human being then

00:41:41.940 --> 00:41:43.000
 has this profound

00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:44.839
 dignity as a

00:41:44.839 --> 00:41:46.259
 result of the

00:41:46.259 --> 00:41:47.940
 doctrine of the

00:41:47.940 --> 00:41:48.440
 incarnation.

00:41:49.359 --> 00:41:50.099
 And that we see

00:41:50.099 --> 00:41:50.839
 that God didn't

00:41:50.839 --> 00:41:51.759
 just sort of reveal

00:41:51.759 --> 00:41:52.819
 himself in a way

00:41:52.819 --> 00:41:53.739
 that only smart

00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:55.000
 people can understand

00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.219
 or that only very

00:41:56.219 --> 00:41:57.299
 poetic and subtle

00:41:57.299 --> 00:41:58.440
 people can understand,

00:41:58.819 --> 00:41:59.539
 but just as a

00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:00.779
 young child

00:42:00.779 --> 00:42:02.739
 gets a true

00:42:02.739 --> 00:42:03.519
 sense of a human

00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:03.759
 being,

00:42:03.859 --> 00:42:04.659
 you can read even

00:42:04.659 --> 00:42:05.799
 the youngest child

00:42:05.799 --> 00:42:06.639
 stories about

00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.779
 Jesus and they

00:42:07.779 --> 00:42:08.299
 can start to

00:42:08.299 --> 00:42:09.059
 understand and

00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:09.719
 know him.

00:42:10.279 --> 00:42:10.759
 And even the

00:42:10.759 --> 00:42:11.480
 youngest child,

00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:11.859
 in fact,

00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:13.179
 young children have

00:42:13.179 --> 00:42:14.039
 an easier time of

00:42:14.039 --> 00:42:14.679
 understanding that

00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:15.719
 God loved you so

00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:17.039
 much that he came

00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.480
 to seek you and

00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:20.039
 find you and die

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:21.319
 on the cross to

00:42:21.319 --> 00:42:22.859
 make you his child

00:42:22.859 --> 00:42:23.859
 because he loves

00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:24.719
 you and that is a

00:42:24.719 --> 00:42:25.339
 story that even

00:42:25.339 --> 00:42:26.599
 the simplest child

00:42:26.599 --> 00:42:27.819
 can understand,

00:42:28.000 --> 00:42:28.679
 but the most

00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:30.059
 profound mystic

00:42:30.059 --> 00:42:31.699
 intellectual poet,

00:42:32.019 --> 00:42:33.019
 musician will

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:34.039
 never exhaust,

00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.900
 but will also

00:42:34.900 --> 00:42:35.539
 understand.

00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:36.860
 And God does

00:42:36.860 --> 00:42:37.539
 not just sort of

00:42:37.539 --> 00:42:38.739
 reveal himself in

00:42:38.739 --> 00:42:39.300
 a way that he

00:42:39.300 --> 00:42:40.159
 can stand back

00:42:40.159 --> 00:42:41.099
 aloof, but he

00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:42.340
 comes among us

00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.259
 in the midst of

00:42:43.259 --> 00:42:44.480
 our mess and he

00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:45.360
 comes amongst us

00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:45.980
 in the midst of

00:42:45.980 --> 00:42:46.880
 our mess not to

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:48.420
 condemn us, but to

00:42:48.420 --> 00:42:49.480
 die on the cross

00:42:49.480 --> 00:42:50.599
 and to provide a

00:42:50.599 --> 00:42:52.099
 way, the way,

00:42:52.940 --> 00:42:53.659
 by which we could

00:42:53.659 --> 00:42:54.480
 return to him.

00:42:57.719 --> 00:42:58.420
 You know, there

00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:58.800
 have been many

00:42:58.800 --> 00:42:59.699
 people, and I'm

00:42:59.699 --> 00:43:00.460
 not taking plot

00:43:00.460 --> 00:43:01.199
 shots, this is a

00:43:01.199 --> 00:43:02.000
 common thing about

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:03.019
 all over the

00:43:03.019 --> 00:43:05.360
 world, but I'm

00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:05.880
 sure there are

00:43:05.880 --> 00:43:06.900
 many low-wage

00:43:06.900 --> 00:43:08.239
 workers in

00:43:08.239 --> 00:43:09.059
 North America

00:43:09.059 --> 00:43:10.699
 and many small

00:43:10.699 --> 00:43:11.800
 business owners in

00:43:11.800 --> 00:43:13.239
 North America who

00:43:13.239 --> 00:43:14.900
 wonder if high-paid

00:43:14.900 --> 00:43:16.900
 bureaucrats and

00:43:16.900 --> 00:43:18.940
 politicians effortlessly

00:43:18.940 --> 00:43:20.159
 make decisions about

00:43:20.159 --> 00:43:21.239
 lockdowns and throw

00:43:21.239 --> 00:43:22.179
 them out of work and

00:43:22.179 --> 00:43:23.019
 put their business out

00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:23.579
 of business.

00:43:24.159 --> 00:43:25.199
 And they wonder if

00:43:25.199 --> 00:43:26.099
 these people know

00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:28.460
 what it's like to be a

00:43:28.460 --> 00:43:29.320
 low-wage worker.

00:43:29.320 --> 00:43:30.140
 Do they know what

00:43:30.140 --> 00:43:31.120
 it's like to be a

00:43:31.120 --> 00:43:32.100
 small business owner?

00:43:32.700 --> 00:43:33.740
 And they have very

00:43:33.740 --> 00:43:34.840
 good reasons to ask

00:43:34.840 --> 00:43:35.580
 that question.

00:43:39.059 --> 00:43:40.019
 But only in the

00:43:40.019 --> 00:43:40.880
 gospel do we know

00:43:40.880 --> 00:43:42.240
 that God knows what

00:43:42.240 --> 00:43:44.059
 it's like for you to

00:43:44.059 --> 00:43:44.940
 be a human being.

00:43:46.100 --> 00:43:47.460
 He is not a God

00:43:47.460 --> 00:43:48.640
 aloof from your

00:43:48.640 --> 00:43:48.980
 mess.

00:43:49.240 --> 00:43:50.480
 He came in the

00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.840
 midst of human

00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:52.260
 mess.

00:43:52.680 --> 00:43:53.600
 And he will come in

00:43:53.600 --> 00:43:54.340
 the midst of your

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:54.800
 mess.

00:43:55.300 --> 00:43:57.280
 He died bearing

00:43:57.280 --> 00:43:58.680
 your mess for

00:43:58.680 --> 00:44:00.480
 your mess so

00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:01.460
 that you could

00:44:01.460 --> 00:44:02.600
 be the adopted

00:44:02.600 --> 00:44:03.640
 child of God

00:44:03.640 --> 00:44:04.280
 when you put your

00:44:04.280 --> 00:44:05.220
 faith in Christ.

00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:08.120
 He comes in to

00:44:08.120 --> 00:44:09.560
 know us so that

00:44:09.560 --> 00:44:10.320
 we might know God.

00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:11.740
 Let's stand.

00:44:19.740 --> 00:44:20.740
 Bow our heads in

00:44:20.740 --> 00:44:21.000
 prayer.

00:44:27.280 --> 00:44:29.000
 Father, we confess

00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:29.880
 before you that we

00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:31.140
 just very casually

00:44:31.140 --> 00:44:32.320
 think that our

00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:34.300
 minds and our

00:44:34.300 --> 00:44:35.620
 minds formed by our

00:44:35.620 --> 00:44:36.640
 culture is the

00:44:36.640 --> 00:44:37.360
 measure of all

00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:37.980
 things.

00:44:38.720 --> 00:44:39.780
 And if you don't

00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:41.019
 meet the criteria of

00:44:41.019 --> 00:44:42.120
 our mind that

00:44:42.120 --> 00:44:43.100
 somehow that's your

00:44:43.100 --> 00:44:44.360
 problem, Father, we

00:44:44.360 --> 00:44:45.460
 don't even recognize

00:44:45.460 --> 00:44:46.900
 our profound pride

00:44:46.900 --> 00:44:47.680
 and arrogance.

00:44:49.460 --> 00:44:50.560
 And so, Father, we

00:44:50.560 --> 00:44:51.519
 thank you for your

00:44:51.519 --> 00:44:51.980
 word.

00:44:52.140 --> 00:44:52.700
 We thank you,

00:44:52.820 --> 00:44:53.620
 Father, that we have

00:44:53.620 --> 00:44:54.560
 a chance to gather

00:44:54.560 --> 00:44:55.640
 around your world and

00:44:55.640 --> 00:44:56.700
 to be confronted about

00:44:56.699 --> 00:44:57.500
 our pride and our

00:44:57.500 --> 00:44:57.879
 arrogance.

00:44:58.639 --> 00:44:59.779
 And we ask, Lord, that

00:44:59.779 --> 00:45:00.699
 you would humble us,

00:45:00.759 --> 00:45:01.779
 that you would humble

00:45:01.779 --> 00:45:02.619
 us, that we would

00:45:02.619 --> 00:45:04.019
 acknowledge that you,

00:45:04.139 --> 00:45:04.960
 if you are God, if

00:45:04.960 --> 00:45:05.779
 there really is one

00:45:05.779 --> 00:45:06.500
 answer in our prayer,

00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:07.359
 that you have to be

00:45:07.359 --> 00:45:08.299
 vastly greater than

00:45:08.299 --> 00:45:08.460
 us.

00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:09.439
 You have to be one that

00:45:09.439 --> 00:45:10.659
 our mind can't fully

00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:12.079
 understand, that we

00:45:12.079 --> 00:45:13.339
 can only get bits and

00:45:13.339 --> 00:45:14.460
 glimpses that you

00:45:14.460 --> 00:45:15.460
 give to us, that that

00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:16.460
 has to be what is

00:45:16.460 --> 00:45:16.739
 real.

00:45:18.179 --> 00:45:18.960
 And, Father, we give

00:45:18.960 --> 00:45:19.879
 you thanks and praise

00:45:19.879 --> 00:45:20.419
 that you don't just

00:45:20.419 --> 00:45:21.759
 merely give us pieces

00:45:21.759 --> 00:45:22.759
 of information in the

00:45:22.759 --> 00:45:23.559
 abstract, but that you

00:45:23.559 --> 00:45:24.219
 came and walked

00:45:24.219 --> 00:45:25.059
 amongst us, that you

00:45:25.059 --> 00:45:26.639
 revealed yourself so

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:27.279
 that we would know

00:45:27.279 --> 00:45:28.000
 you, that we would

00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:29.299
 know that you have

00:45:29.299 --> 00:45:31.579
 provided a way, even in

00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.539
 the midst of our mess,

00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:33.400
 that you will be our

00:45:33.400 --> 00:45:34.940
 God, that you would be

00:45:34.940 --> 00:45:36.239
 our Father, that Jesus

00:45:36.239 --> 00:45:37.480
 would be our Savior, that

00:45:37.480 --> 00:45:38.299
 the Holy Spirit would

00:45:38.299 --> 00:45:40.079
 indwell us, that we

00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:41.119
 would have a hope of

00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:42.539
 heaven, a hope of glory,

00:45:43.639 --> 00:45:45.879
 a hope of a future,

00:45:46.699 --> 00:45:48.019
 that you have revealed

00:45:48.019 --> 00:45:49.259
 yourself in such a way

00:45:49.259 --> 00:45:50.159
 that we know that when

00:45:50.159 --> 00:45:51.099
 we put our faith and

00:45:51.099 --> 00:45:52.259
 trust in Jesus, that you

00:45:52.259 --> 00:45:53.519
 will never let us go,

00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:54.360
 that you will never

00:45:54.360 --> 00:45:55.860
 forsake us, that you

00:45:55.860 --> 00:45:57.579
 will never mock us, that

00:45:57.579 --> 00:45:58.780
 you will never shame us,

00:45:58.840 --> 00:45:59.460
 that you will never

00:45:59.460 --> 00:46:01.340
 deride us, that you

00:46:01.340 --> 00:46:03.739
 only become our Savior

00:46:03.739 --> 00:46:05.519
 to save us and to fit us

00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:07.940
 from heaven, to do what

00:46:07.940 --> 00:46:10.099
 we cannot do that only you

00:46:10.099 --> 00:46:10.559
 can do.

00:46:10.739 --> 00:46:11.940
 Father, we ask that you

00:46:11.940 --> 00:46:13.159
 would fill us with a

00:46:13.159 --> 00:46:15.460
 great comfort and great

00:46:15.460 --> 00:46:16.759
 confidence and trust in

00:46:16.759 --> 00:46:18.400
 Jesus, and a great,

00:46:18.400 --> 00:46:20.239
 great confidence that there

00:46:20.239 --> 00:46:21.860
 is but one God, Father,

00:46:21.860 --> 00:46:23.140
 Son, and Holy Spirit,

00:46:23.260 --> 00:46:25.039
 three persons, one God,

00:46:25.360 --> 00:46:26.039
 forever and ever.

00:46:26.599 --> 00:46:26.920
 Amen.